Seventeen
Ari led Nancy through the twisting corridors until they found a small game room back down on the ground floor, tucked away from the main flow of guests. The heavy wooden door clicked shut behind them, muffling the distant sounds of laughter and clinking glasses from the hall. Ari turned to face Nancy, who was watching her with arms still folded, waiting.
‘Start talking,’ Nancy said.
Ari took a breath. ‘I didn’t come to this wedding for Paris. Not really.’
Nancy’s eyes flickered with annoyance. ‘I’d gotten that far. So why were you sneaking around her house like that?’
Ari hesitated, then said, ‘I’m here for my grandmother’s necklace.’
Nancy blinked. ‘Wait—what?’
‘She never admitted it, but I know she took it. She was furious when I broke up with her, and then suddenly, the necklace was gone. Doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes, does it?’ Ari explained calmly.
Nancy exhaled slowly. ‘Why didn’t you tell me that was what this was all about?’
Ari’s jaw tightened. ‘Would you have helped if I had told you?’
Nancy considered that. ‘Do you have a plan?’
Ari gave her a look. ‘Obviously.’
Nancy arched an eyebrow. ‘Which is?’
‘Step one: find Paris’s room. Step two: get my necklace back.’
‘That’s not a plan,’ Nancy muttered. ‘That’s an objective.’
Ari shrugged. ‘Details.’
‘I didn’t think you even cared about that necklace.’
‘You know about that?’ Ari said, surprised.
‘You and your mother were arguing about once. I wasn’t trying to listen, but… She was angry. And you were very casual about the whole thing.’
‘Because there’s not a lot else I can do when she gets going,’ Ari said.
‘But if Paris stole it, I don’t understand why you didn’t tell her what happened?’ Nancy asked.
‘You know that wouldn’t have helped anything,’ Ari huffed. ‘She wouldn’t have believed me. Or if she did, I still would have been to blame because I ended the relationship badly. Or if not that, there’d be some other way this was my fault.’
Nancy couldn’t argue with that. The woman would have pinned the Kennedy assassination on Ari, given half a chance.
‘If you know how she is, why do this? Why try to correct it? She won’t appreciate it,’ Nancy told her honestly.
Ari’s face set in a determination that looked alien on her. ‘I just wanted to see her face when she sees I got something right. I need it. Just one flash of surprise on that smug face. Just once.’
Sympathy swept over Nancy. But only briefly. ‘You should have told me.’
Ari’s shoulders slumped. ‘I just wanted to handle this on my own. I didn’t think you’d ever even find out. But now I feel like a fool, running around in formal wear like I’m in some crap heist movie. Ocean’s One.’
Nancy laughed despite the tension.
‘Are you going to leave the wedding?’ Ari asked.
‘Should I?’ Nancy asked seriously.
‘I hope you don’t, but I suppose I couldn’t blame you,’ Ari said helplessly.
‘Ari, Jesus,’ Nancy exclaimed, annoyed. ‘I deserved to know what was going on here. You’ve pulled me into a crime.’
‘Technically, there’s been no crime yet. And even if I find the necklace, it’s mine. I’m just retrieving it,’ Ari said.
‘I understand that. But it doesn’t mean we can’t get in trouble. You do see that, don’t you? Rooting around the bedrooms, looking through the family’s stuff? It’s dicey. At best.’
Ari nodded. ‘Right. But you’re already here, so why not help me out?’
‘Because I’m not getting a custodial sentence for you and your grandmother’s trinket,’ Nancy replied plainly.
Ari stared at her. ‘Fine. Let me get on with it, then.’
As Ari reached for the door, Nancy caught her wrist. ‘No.’
Ari frowned. ‘No?’
Nancy’s jaw tightened. ‘We’re going back to the dinner, and you’re going to act like a normal person.’
Ari’s eyes narrowed. ‘You’re kidding.’
‘Do I look like I’m kidding?’ Nancy asked her. This was the closest she’d ever come to telling Ari what to do. But she was too angry to care.
Ari hesitated, then let out a frustrated breath. ‘Fine. But I’m not dropping this.’
‘Of course you’re not,’ Nancy muttered, pushing open the door.